The Effect of Variant Diet on Growth and Boldness in Juvenile Trinidadian Guppies (Poecilia Reticulata).

Diet is an integral component of the welfare of captive animals. Previous studies have shown that diet can influence species growth and behavior. However, whether a variant diet provides enhanced benefits for captive animals, like the Trinidadian guppy, is not known. We fed aquarium juvenile guppies three different diets for 4 weeks and assessed growth rate and changes in boldness behavior between the start and end of the experiment. Diet type did not have an effect on either growth or boldness. We did find that guppies fed a variant diet exhibited more boldness at the end of the experiment compared with the start. Our results suggest that the type of diet fed to juvenile guppies can be used interchangeably with minimal effects on growth or boldness. Diet is an essential aspect of animal welfare, and further research allows for effective captive practices to improve and maintain the survival of aquatic species.